Oil burner



V. HJAND J. vH'. T. MILLS.

. OIL BURNER.

APPLICATION `FILED JAN.14| |920.

m PatentedMar. -14, 1922.A

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V'. H. A'ND 1. H. T. lVHLLS. A olL BURNER. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.14 [920. I 1,409,390I Patented Mar. 14,1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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.OILBURNUL APPLICATION FILED 1AN.I4.19..0.

Patented Mar.14,' 1922.,`

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VIRGIL H. MILLS AND JOHN I-I. T. MILLS, 0F HUBBARD, TEXAS.

OIL BURNER.

Appiicationmea January 14, 1920. serial No. 351,374.

To all 'whom t may cof/wem Be it known that we, VIRGIL H. MILLS and y JOHN H. T. MILLS, citizens of the United States, residing at Hubbard, in the county of Hill and State of rllexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil Burners, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for and method of consuming liquid fuel and particularly heavy oils or hydrocarbons which have heretofore been burned only with great diiiiculty. There areV various heavy oils or hydrocarbons which may be obtained at an extremely low cost, such for example as the heavy p-roducts known as fuel oil, residuum, and the like but which cannot be successfully consumed in an ordinary liquid fuel burner although we have found that they constitute excellent fuels when burned in accordance withjthe method of the present invention.

It is, therefore, an object of the present in,- vention to provide means whereby fuel of this nature may be successfully consumed in an economical and inexpensive manner.

' Another object of the invention'is to providemeans for vaporizing the liquid fuel or converting the same into a gas or mixture of gases and for simultaneously igniting the gases at their point of generation so that the gases are consumed while in their nascent state and are thus prevented from cooling or condensing, prior to ignition, to such extent as to interfere with their complete combustion. y

Another object ofthe invention is to provide thermal means for instantaneously cracking or breaking yup the particles of liquid fuel supplied thereto and for burning the same into a gas or mixture of gases and to effect combustion of these gases at the instant they are generated.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus constructed to con'-Y sume liquid fuel in the mannery abovevreferred to, an arrangement whereby air, for the purpose of supporting combustion, may be most effectively supplied during the operation of the apparatus and in such a manner as to insure of complete combustion of the gaseous fuel under the most favorable condltions.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective viewy of a heatlng stove equipped with the apparatus of the present invention; Y f F ig. 2 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through a portion ofthe apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical transverse sec# tional view on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2; i

Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedvMaL 14:, 192% i Fig. 4. is a perspective view of a portion i of the apparatus;

Flg. v5 vis a view in elevation illustrating the valve for regulating the' fuel supply; F1g. 6 is a view'partly in plan and partly 1n horizontal section illustratinga modified embodiment of the invention;

.Figa 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewthrough the Structure shown in Fig. 6';

Fig. 8 is a planview of a member ofthe structure shown in Fig. 7.

The principles ofthe invention may find embodiment in heating stoves yof various s1zes,vcooking stoves, hot air and boiler furnaces, and in fact in stove or furnace.

However, the description which isvto follow deals chiefly with the invention as applied to domestic heating and cooking Stoves, its application on aflarger scale being set forth in our copending application filed January 14, 1920, Serial No.` 351,375. On the'other hand it is to be understood that the drawings are to 'be considered as` merely illustrative of possible embodiments of the f invention and that the principles of the invention may find various other embodiments and that consequently various modifications may bev made in the apparatusv employed without in any. wayldeparting from the spirit ofthe invention. K

, In the drawings the invention is illustrated as employed in connection with a heating stove of the drum type and `of this stove, the drum or body isl yindicated bythe numeral `1, lthe flue by the numeral 2, and

the usual damper in the iueby the numeral 3t The apparatusof the present invention includes acombined generating and combustion chamber which indicated in general by the numeral hisinthe present instance mounted upon the exterior of the stovezdrum j 1 `although it may be found desirable-toY mount this chamber directly within the drum or to so construct the stove that the chamber will constitute a pa rt of the drum. However, in the illustrated structure, thc combustion'rhamber is as stated, mounted upon the exterior of the drum 1 and its interior is in communication with the interior of the drum .at the'front of the Vlatterby way of an opening 5 formed in the forward wall of the said drum, which wall constitutes the rca-r wall of the chamber 4l. This chamber further includes a 'bottom wall Gand a topi' which latter is formed with an opening 8 of any desired size and shape normally closed by a lid 9 which maybe provided. if `desired, with flange 10to seat within the opening 8. Any means suitable .for the purpose may be provided for conveniently removing and replacing thislid and,'f0r a purpose to be presently explained. .the lid is formed preferably centrally with an opening 11. A baiiie plate- 12 is secured at its upper end to the plate 9 at the rear side of the opening 11 and this plate projectsidownwardly in forwardly inclined posi-tion throughthe opening 11 and .beneath the lid 9 and into the said chamber 4l. It is preferable that the plate 12 be gradually nar'- rowed in thedir-ection of its lower end as clearly shown infFigs 3 ande ofthe `drawings. A deflector plate 13 isv secured at its upper end to the lid 9 at the forward side lof the opening 11 or, in other words, `directly opposite the plate 12 and ylikewise projects downwardly through the saidopen- ,c ing 11 and beneath the .lid 9 and into the .chamber 4. This deflector plate may likewise be gradually narrowed in the direc-tion of its lower end and the said plate vpreferably depends substantially vertically when the lid is in place. It is also to be noted and particularly by reference to Figs. 2 and el of `the drawings that the lower end of the plates12 and 13 arersuitably spaced apart and that the space at theopposite sides of therplates 12 and 13 is left open. y

The top 7 is provided immediately beneath the opening 8 with means for supporting a flash pan and this means preferably comprises relatively deep side walls 1l. .which depend from the under side of the top 7 at the opposite ends of the openii and are provided with inwardly projecnng horizontally disposed supporting lianges -1'5 which are preferably inclined downwardly and rearwardly to a slight degree as inFig. 2 of the drawings. .Likewise the top TA is provided, at the rear sidepof the opening A8, with a depending Harige or apron 16 having one or more lugs 17. projecting downwardly from its lower end7 this flange or apron ex tending between the walls 14 asclearly shown in ig. 3 and the lower Aedge thereof being located considerably above the plane Y of; cupied bythe flanges' 15. Thellashgpan above referred to .is indicated in lgeneral by the numeral 18 and the said panv comprises a bottom 19, sides 20, and a rear wall 21, the pan being` open at its front and top andhaving its bottom 19 inclined kdownwardly and rearwardly toward the wall 21 so that the pan is gradually increased in vdepth to Va slight degree from its forward to its rear side. The pan is of a shape and size to be fitted between the side walls 14 with its bottom resting upon the flanges 15 as clearly 'shown in Figs. 2 and .3 ofthe drawings and with its rear wall 21 abutting against the lower ends of the lugs 17 but with its upper edge sliaced below theflower edge of the lflange 16 yso as to provide a .draft passage 22.

` Fuel is to be fed tothe liash `pan by means which will now be described. The numeral 23 indicates a drip Vnozzle Vwhich isfitted through the ,lid y9 preferably .directlyrearwardly of the baffleA plate 12v with its lower end positioned to discharge into .the ,flash pan 18 near the rear end thereof, and this nozzle is provided at .its upper Iendwitlia funnel shaped mouth 24 linto which Y the liquid fuel is to be discharged from the lower end of a pipe A25 held'by a bracket 26in position suitably .spaced above the mouth 24 of the drip nozzle to `permit of the feedV of*V the fuel to kthe nozzle being readily observed. The pipe `25 leads downwardlyfrom a supply .tank or reservoir 27 in which the liquid fuel is` contained,and a valve 2S is interposed in the pipe 2,5'bet'ween the said reservoir 27 and the discharge end ofthe pipe and is provided with ahead 29 by means of which ythe valve maybe rotatably adjusted to regulate the supply 0f fuel. vAn

adjustable abutment screw 30 is 'threaded through an extension 31 of the head 29 and is'de'sig'ned to bear. at its end against Athe lower end of the valvey casing or any other suitably locatednabutment iportion or element and it will be understood that/by' adjusting this screw, Vthe Aextent to which the valvemay be ,opened .may be limited.

The foregoing .description relates `particulailyY to that `Vferm of the invention Vshown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and in theoperation of rthis form of the` invention. an initial quantity of fuel is ignited in the pan18 and when the pan has' become suitablyjhea'ted,

the valve 29 is openedso as to permit thef'u'el y to flow verv frraduallv f/i'fointhe reservoir 27 toA the nozzle from the lower endoffwhic-h it Vis discharged eithera drop at a time or in a very small stream.into-tliefsaidhpan.

rllhe draft through the thief?. will` causegair topbe drawn'in through lthe'opening .11, and

as thefair. currents flowr downwardly ithrough this opening, they will sweep over the top of the' pan and 'sup-ply oxygen y,for they combust-ion of the gas which vis generated fr oml the oil. llhen the apparatus in operation, the liquid fuel will be instantaneously vaporized lupon striking the intensely heatedflash iso pan or probably even before reaching'the said pan and at the moment the liquid fuel is converted into gas, the gas is ignited and is completely consumed. The combustion of the gas will create an intense heat which will play not only against the upper but also against the ,under side of thebottom of the pan so that there will be no likelihood whatsoever of the fuel condensing or accumulata ing or caking inthe pan. It will be understood, of course, that the air currents and llames will sweep over the forward end of the pan as well as over the rear wall 21 thereof through the space 22, and the burning gases will be carried by the draft, "from the chamber 4 through the opening 5 and into the drum 1 lthe products `of combustion passing out through the lue2 and creating the said draft. It will be understood that the baille plate 12 serves effectually to preblowing the fuel out of the pan and inter-- fering withits conversion into gas. On the other hand the air currents are admitted-into the generating and combustion chamber through the opening ll in such a mannerk that they will completely envelop the ignited gases andV thus insure of perfect and complete combustion thereof. It may be stated in this connection that we have found that if the bottom of the flash pan is heated only at its upper surface or only at its lower surface, the desired results cannot be obtained and it is for this reason chiefly that the pan is so arranged and supported that the heat from the burning gases is caused to play both upon the upper and under surfaces of the said bottom. lt is again stated that in the operation of the apparatus the bottom of the pan if not the entire pan will be brought to an intense white heat and consequently the liquid fuel discharged into the pan from the drip nozzle will be instantaneously converted into gas and simultaneously with their generation, the gases will be ignited, in the presence of a suliicient volume of air to insure of their complete and instantaneous combustion.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 of the drawings, the combustion chamber which in these figures is indicated in general by the numerals 32, includes a bottom 33 and a top or lid 34 which is shown in section in Fig. 7 and in plan in Fig. 8 and which is Vpreferably pivoted at one corner as at 35 to the wall of the combustion chamber so that it may be swung to one side to permit of access to the said chamber.l The arrangement of the chamber'is and removably fitted into the upper endof thisstandard is the stem 39 of a supporting spider, the arms of which are indicated by the numeral 40 and radiate from the upper end of the'said stem. Theflash pan in'this yform of the invention is indicated' by thev numeral14l and the samey is preferably shallow and is of a marginal outline correspond-- ing substantially to the shape of the series of openings 36. That is to say,*if the 'pan is circular, the openings will be arranged in a circular series or, if the pan is rectangular the openings will be arranged in a rectangular series. Therefore, within the terms of the invention, the pan may be of any marginal contour and the openings will be arranged in a series of corresponding formation. The bottom of the pan 41 is preferably provided with a shallow depression 42'10- i i cated centrally thereof andimmediately beneath the fuel opening 37. Fuel is discharged from a supplypipe 43 located above the lid 34 and drips from this pipe through theopenin 37 and onto the bottom of the pan 4l. he pan being maintained at an intense heat, the fuel will be instantaneously vaporized and converted into gas upon striking the vpan and due to the draft created within they drum ofthe stove, air vwill be drawn into the combustion chamberthrouglr the openings 36 and will be caused to sweep over the periphery of the pan thus supplying oxygen forthe combustion of the generated gases and completely enveloping these burning gases in a combustion supporting atmosphere. this form of the invention as the previously described form, the heat from the'burninggases will be transmitted to the upper surface of the pan and also to It will be obthe under surface thereof. served by reference to Fig. that the openings 3G are located above and immediately inwardly of the periphery of the pan and we have foundthis arrangement Vto berths onel f producingithe'best results. It willv be evi'- dent at this point that. instead of providing the standard 38 and spider comprising the parts 39 Yand 40, the vpan 4l may be supported in some other mannerand as before` pointed out the invention'is not restricted to the specific details of structure illustrated Y in the drawings. 'By providing the depression 42 in the lcentral portionof the bottom' of the pan 41, asm'allfquantity offuel initially discharged into Y. the pan will not pan may be readily removed Vfor the purpose of vcleaning ,the same. It Willalso be understood from the vforegoing that in each `form of the invention the flash panl is so supported .that the air drawn `into the combustion chamber Vmay substantially completely en velope the .pan and consequently' the burning gases and thus provide for complete combustion of said igases. r y

Having 'thus described the invention, what is claimed as newis.;

l. In vapparatus of the class described, a Vcombustion chamber having a draft outlet in its lower .portion and a `draftintake in its upper portion, a'bafiie and a deector arranged .at opposite :sides of the said intake to direct the draft ina downward direction yat an angle, a thermal ashing pan 'disposed beneath the intake and having an open side intheV path of the draft, and means for feeding fuel to the said pan.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a combustion chamber having an outlet in its lower portion vand provided in its top with a continuousseries of draft intake openings the intake openings and through the said chamber to the outlet.

In testimony whereof We aHiX our signa tures. Y Y

` VIRGIL H. lVLlLLS. [Ls] JOHN H. T. vMILLS. [Lus] 

